caughtinanetwork

[The video turns on to bright, light grey, clouds; the only barrier between the sun and the beach. Raindrops fall onto the camera, but they're wiped off by the owner of the SFC, one vampire who's currently standing dressed only in an open button-down and loose, low-hanging jeans that are rolled up to above his knees, calf-deep in the ocean as the rain falls steadily from the sky.

Apparently, he likes to live on the edge with those clouds.]

“Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts.” Charles Dickens, Great Expectations.

Back home, I've heard it said that God is in the rain just as He is in the sun's rays...

[So, then, why is it only the sun that burns?]

Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life...and yet, people hide away from the rain and seek shelter inside and curse nature for ruining their bright and sunny day. Why?

[Finally he turns a small, vaguely sad, smirk to the camera.]

What about all of you? What are your qualms with the rain? Does it have any sort of significance for you personally or back home? Or is it just the thing that hides the sun from your face~?

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[He's sorry Rinoa...he didn't mean to say that...out loud.]

I...I know. At least, I know that that's what everyone thinks and tells me. You and Serph and Otoha and..a lot of my friends. I just...

[He shrugs.]

[He would take that hug...and that scolding...and he'd put up with his alcohol being taken away, fine.]

[Serph... yeah, he would say that. Rinoa's not surprised by that at all.]

But you don't think it. You don't believe it.

[He wants to make some flippant, off-hand comment and act like it doesn't matter, but the alcohol is making him honest, much to his displeasure later.]

Really? I don't know how.

You're not just a vampire, not here. You're Johnny! [She does her best to give him a cheery smile.] You run a tavern, you have a lot of friends from the sound of it, and you have a mean baking streak! And you're a healer. You're lots of different things besides that. Focus on those.

...

[Johnny isn't even his real name...but he's not that nit-picky. Is it really as easy as all that?]

Yeah...you're right..

[She'd call him by his real name if she knew it :c ]

It's just how you look at yourself. Sure, you're a vampire and that has some bad stuff that comes with it. But that's just a part of who you are, and it certainly doesn't have to be your focus.

[It was taken from him, he physically can't say it or he'd tell her :c

He's quiet a moment, the alcohol long since slipping from his system as he processes the information.]

Hey, Rinoa? Think you could do me a favour? If you hear me saying stuff like that, hit me.

[Finally he smiles; it's small but it's real.]

It's not easy to change seven hundred years of perception, but I'll give it a try~

[....8( not even write it down??

She almost balks at his question.]

That's... a bit drastic. Can I at least try to yell at you first before I resort to that? [She doesn't want to say no to his help, just... it's so violent.]

I imagine it's not. But if anyone can do it, it's you!

[Demons are thorough when they do something. :c]

[He laughs.]

Well, I guess that could work too.

[...]

Thanks...I don't know why you believe in me like that, but I appreciate it.

Besides, I tend to scratch more than I hit.

[Curious head tilt.]

Because I know you're a good person. S'enough for me.

[He could say something about 'kinky' here, but he'll behave.]

Thanks, Rinoa. That means a lot.

[Bad Johnny. She's an employee!]

No problem. Now, are you gonna just keep standing there or is someone coming to get you?

[But teasing is fun~]

Someone's coming I think~ Don't worry...My senility will only last a little while longer.

All right all right. Let me know if you need anything, okay?

Will do~

[He gives her a salute and a wink.]

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